Pond Hockey: Tria

Meet Becca and Katie from Tria

Tria provides physicians for the Wild.  

I liked the Operator game available for those with a steady hand. 

Thanks Becca and Katie.  Lovely meeting you both!

Pond Hockey: In the Big Tent: Vendors

I've been to the Pond Hockey tournament a few years now and this was the first time I actually walked into the big tent.   This is where the various vendors are set up and where teams can come in and warm up..suit up...etc.

Meet Julia and Charlie.

They left me a card, ,which I have lost.   So, for the moment, I can only say....THANK YOU, Julie and Charlie!

Pont Hockey Spectators: Cheering on Husbands and Boyfriends.

Meet Meredith and Jessica!

They were just walking onto the ice as I was leaving.   They were there to cheer on husbands and boyfriends.  

My sincere thanks!

The Pond Crew's Home Base

Yes...a nice couple of sofa's on the ice. 

The Pond Crew: 3

Finally, meet John!

He was the last member of the Pond Crew I managed to corner for a photo!

Thanks John!

The Pond Crew: 2

Meet Tom

Another member of the Pond Crew!  

The Pond Crew: 1

Meet another Doug!

He was part of the Pond Crew!  his job was to ensure people were safe, the games were on time, and that everyone had fun!  How can you not have fun walking around on a frozen lake with hockey fans and teammates!

Playing for Patrick

Meet Doug!

He was supporting Play for Patrick, an EKG heart screening foundation.   

And, as you can see, he participates in the Red Bull Crashed Ice competition!
Thanks Doug!

Pond Hockey: 2016!

There was a lot of concern about whether the Pond Hockey tournament would be held this year.   Typically you can count on some cold weather to make great ice on the lake. 

It was, in fact, postponed for two weeks due to unsafe ice conditions.

Fortunately, we were back in business in that two week time and a great stretch of weather it turned out to be!

Thanks to the one of the sponsors!  LABATT!

They had a great tent setup and it was nice and warm inside!

A Little Hair of the Dog

Not bad.  Not bad at all.

Recovering. Easing into the Day

 It has been a brutal 3+ weeks.   And yesterday was St. Paddy's Day.

Nuff said.

I had this strange feeling I was being watched last night.  I was right!!

OK, it was a lousy attempt at humor.  But, it was a horrible 3 weeks and I am tired.  

St. Paul Sportsman's Show: Funny Gears

On my way out, I stopped by a booth called "Funny Gears". They featured a series of different gears in different configurations, all multicolored and in plastic.   They had battery operated ones that generated some very nice visuals.

I thought this would be a great gift for kids or adult gear heads!

Please check them out!

St. Paul Sportsman's Show: Wenasaga Lodge

Meet Dave, from Wenasaga Lodge in Ontario, Canada

I really like seeing our friends to the north making a presence in our state.   I am sure they drum up some good business for passionate anglers. 

Thanks Dave.  It was a pleasure chatting with you! 

St. Paul Sportsman's Show: Kitchi Island

Meet Clinton from tropical Kitchi Island.  If you are curious, it is about 2.5 hrs north of Winnipeg if you are driving.

From there, you fly to one of a few lakes for pristine fishing!

Thanks Clinton.  That is some beautiful country.  

The Sportsman's Show: Leather Works

Meet Todd and Sarah Miller from Miller Leatherworks. 

They make the most interesting products I saw that day,   They make glasses out of leather.  They don't wrap the leather around the glass.  The actual container is made of leather and coated to withstand washing, etc.

Todd calls them "shooter" glasses.   See above and below for the larger drinking glasses, perfect for your choice of adult beverages.

Or, you can get a set of smaller shot glasses.  Again, these are 100% leather!

But, the most interesting product is a mug made out of the raw material below.  Care to make a guess what it is?

If you guessed buffalo scrotum, you would be right! Pictured above in all it's hairy glory is a genuine buffalo scrotum.   It is pretty big, actually.  Not as big as Donald Trumps, I hear.  But, pretty big!

Below is the finished product as displayed in their marketing brochure.   These are actually awesome!  Notice that the finished product has been closely shaved. I very much support the idea of shaved or trimmed if your mouth is going anywhere near it!

They are a bit pricey.   Todd said that they take longer to make because it is harder (no jokes please) to work the scrotum.   I told him that I wouldn't make it easy if it were my scrotum, either!

I like Todd.  He has a great sense of humor!

Thanks Todd and Sarah!  

The St. Paul Sportsman's Show: Turkey Hunting

I have never been much of a hunter.   But, I am intrigued by the interest in it as well as the gadgets.  I was fascinated by the turkey umbrella!

Below is a photo of the front of the umbrella.

Behind it, a hunter can crouch with a camera or shotgun, keeping an eye on the turkey's in front of the umbrella through the little peep hole in the top of the umbrella.

Quite fascinating!  Even I would fall for that.  But, I am not very smart.

St. Paul Sportsman's Show: FISHING!!!

Who doesn't like to go fishing?   Meet Chris from Nicky Boy Charters out of Port Washington, Wisconsin!

Think....deep fresh water fishing for salmon and lake trout!   What a fun day!

Thanks Chris!  I think I am getting ready for a trip this summer.

St. Paul Sportsman's Show: The Sunset Lodge

Meet Brook!

She lives in the Woodbury area.  But, she loves working at the Sunset Lodge in the NW Angle of Minnesota.  That is some beautiful country up there along the Lake of the Woods.

Thanks Brook!

St. Paul Sportsman's Show: Looking for Real Estate?

Meet Sam and Sam from Lake Place realty.

They specialize in finding rural and water property for recreational use.   I had a lovely chat with them and we realized we had someone in common!   I may need to look these folks up!

The St. Paul Sportsman's Show: Supporting the BWCA

Meet Piper, Will, and Amy!

 They were representing the Boundary Water's Canoe Area.  It is an area that borders Canada.  Generally, it is only accessible via canoe, although there are some motorized routes. 

I spent 3 summers as a guide up in this area.  I know it well and have come to love it.  

Their concern is about mining near the area and what the potential runoff and pollution could do to the area.   It was a cause 40 years ago, as well.

My sincere thanks, to you and your organization.

The St. Paul Sportsman's Show: Our Neighbors to the West!

Meet Rosie!

She was representing the Northeast corner of S. Dakota.   This is a widely known area of gracial lakes and prairies rich with hunting and fishing grounds.

And, I think you can see the corn palace from there!

Thanks Rosie!

The St. Paul Sportsman's Show: Our Neighbors to the North

Meet Dave!

He made the long trip down from Ignace in Ontario where he runs the Lumberjack Lodge on Sturgeon Lake.  

There is certainly great fishing in the area.  But, the area is also known for moose hunting.   I was curious what it would cost for a license to hunt moose.   I won't be going anytime soon.   

The Canadian government issues a certain number of permits to various lodges.   They sell those permits for about $4,000/ea (US currency).  I am beginning to see the huge economic impact hunting provides for these areas.

Thanks Dave!

The St.Paul Sportsman's Show: Envy Skin!

Meet Jamie from Envy Skin!

She is a mother with 2 daughters.   She loves to relax with yoga and regularly lifts weights and does cardio.   And, she is a self described foodie!

 She was representing the Envy Skin Clinic.  For more information about them, click here. 

Thanks Jamie.  It was a pleasure meeting you.

The St. Paul Sportsman's Show: Potpourri Anyone?

Meet Tim!

I liked Tim almost from the first moment I chatted with him.  He was enthusiastic about his natural pest deterrent potpourri!  I even heard the story of how this all came to be. 

And yes, it is all about his mother! 

His mother had created this mix of scents and was selling it in grain elevators and arenas to control the rodent population. 

He has expanded that market to campgrounds and orchards.

He used to be a school teacher but this business has been taking off.  So, he recently resigned his teaching job and is going into this full time.

AND..he is hiring!

Looks a bit like ground up bacon.  But, it had a very pleasant odor!

Thanks Tim!